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**Dick Dale** **Born:** May 4, 1937, Boston, Massachusetts, USA **Died:** March 16, 2019, Loma Linda, California, USA Dick Dale was an American guitarist and record label owner, widely recognized as the "King of the Surf Guitar." He played a pivotal role in pioneering the sounds of surf music, with his 1961 single "Let's Go Trippin'" being regarded as the first surf record. To emulate the sounds and feelings of surfing, Dale employed staccato picking on heavy gauge strings and heavily reverbed amplification, collaborating closely with Leo Fender to develop custom-made amplifiers. A self-taught musician, he learned to play left-handed on a right-handed guitar without restringing it, continuing to perform with the guitar strung upside down even in his later years. His playing often showcased a Middle-Eastern influence, stemming from his Lebanese heritage. Dale began his career in the late 1950s, performing around southern California with his backing band, the Del-Tones. He gained popularity in the region and appeared in several 1960s "beach" movies. Early records were released under his father's label, and he later signed with Capitol Records, producing four studio LPs, though the Del-Tones lineup frequently changed, with many tracks featuring mostly studio musicians. After a battle with rectal cancer forced his retirement in 1965, he made a comeback in the 1970

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